First National Bank in Fairmont v. Phillips

McHUGH, Justice:

In this case we are asked to decide the scope of the doctrine of equitable adoption.

Having denied a motion to dismiss filed by the defendants except for Betty Shamb-lin, the Circuit Court of Marion County, West Virginia [hereinafter, “the trial court”], upon its own motion and upon the joint application of the parties, certified the following question to this Court1: is the doctrine of equitable adoption as set forth in Wheeling Dollar Savings & Trust Co. v. Singer, 162 W.Va. 502, 250 S.E.2d 369 (1978), applicable only as between adoptive *396parent and adoptive child for the…